Old timer at the NAPA told me to use a heat gun on my bumper clips instead of prying

I spent 45 minutes fighting a cracked cover on a 2018 F-150 last Tuesday before I remembered what that guy at the counter said. He was right, three minutes with the heat gun and those clips popped loose like butter. Anyone else got a random tip from a parts counter guy that actually saved your butt?

3 comments

3 Comments

sam_anderson22d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, did you try hitting the clips with a little silicone spray while the plastic was still warm from the heat gun? I know it sounds weird but the heat opens up the plastic just enough to let the spray get in there and lube up the clip itself. That trick combined with a plastic trim tool (not a metal screwdriver, please) got a fender liner off my old F-150 in like two minutes flat. The heat gun is the real hero though, it makes the plastic flexible instead of brittle so you don't snap the tabs off. I swear half the broken clips I see on forums are just from people prying on cold plastic, it cracks every time. Just gotta be careful not to hold the gun too close or you'll melt a wavy pattern into the bumper itself, ask me how I know that one.

jason11221d ago

@sam_anderson the heat gun trick is solid, had to learn that one the hard way myself.

joelthomas21d ago

Man idk, this whole thing kind of reminds me of how half the stuff we break is just from rushing and not taking the time to do it the right way in the first place.